Loose-leaf book.



H. PAYNE. LOOSE LEAP BOOK. APFLIGATIONHLBD AUG. 10, 1909.

Patnteu @11425, 1910.

LOOSE-LEAF BOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

Application filed August l0, 1909. Serial No. 512,197.

Mv invention relates to improvements in loose leaf books of that typecomprising covers and leaf retaining elements passing through the rearedges of the covers.

(hie object of my invention is the provi-` sion of a 'bock of the abovestated character which shall embody a construction designed to obviatethe necessity of en'iploying more than a single leaf retaining element,whereby 'to facilitate the application and removal of the leaves and tosimplify the construction of the book.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a loose leaf bookwherein the covers shall be connected together for relative adjustmentsto permit the number of leaves in the book to be increased ordiminished; the connection between the covers being such that they willlie when closed in parallel relation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a loose leafretaining element which shall have the walls of its entrance slot soformed as to prevent the leaves from becoming accident-ally disengagedtherefrom, the construct-ion of the walls being such as to permit theleaves to be readily and quickly applied to and removed from theelement.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a loose leafbook which shall embody a simple, durable and eiiicient construction,and which may be inaniifac tured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

lith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed, and illust-rated in the accompai'iying drawing,wherein :-n

Figure l is a plan view of a loose leaf book constructed in accordancewith my invention, the book being shown opened. F ig. 2 is a sectionalview taken on the plane indicated by the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aview in end elevation of the book. Fig. et is a view in side elevationof the leaf retaining element. Fig. 5 is a View in edge elevation of theretaining element. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of a slightlymodified form of leaf retaining elen'ient. Fig. 7 is a view in edgeelevation of a modified form of leaf retaining element, and Fig. 8 is aview in side elevation of a still further modified form of leafretaining element. a portion of the element being in vertical section toillustrate the connection between the sections thereof.

Like nini'ierals of reference are used to designate the same partsthroughout the several figures of the drawing.

The loose leaf book comprises covers 9. and 3 which are preferablyrectangular in out line and which may be made of any material suitablefor the purpose. The leaves are removably secured within the book by anelement G. The leaf retaining element (-5 and a strip 7 hingedly connectthe cow ers 2 and 3, the connection between the covers being such thatthey may be relatively adjusted to permit the number of leaves 5 to beincreased or diminislied and to perniit the covers when closed to lie inparallel i-elation.

The retaining element (5 is of the split ring variety, and it passestlirough the rear edges of the covers 2 and 3 at points adjacent theirupper rear corners. To permit of their application to and removal fromthe retaining element G the leaves 5 are each provided at one of itscorners with an opeiiing S. As only one retaining element is employed,the leaves are both hingedly and pivotally secured in applied position.`The pivoting of the leaves permits one or more of them to be swung ontlfrom between the covers when it is desired to write upon or examine thecontents thereof. The hinging of the leaves permits them to be writtenupon and examined in the usual manner.

The strip 7 is constructed of any flexible material suitable for thepurpose. and is secured at its ends to the inner sides of the covers 2and 3 at a point suitably remote from the leaf attaching element G. Asthe leaf retaining element G is annular and as the strip 7 is flexibleand secured only at its ends, the covers 2 and 3 may be relativelyadjusted. lThe adjustability of the covers 2 and 3 permits the number ofleaves 5 to be increased or dii'i'iinished. rlhe strip 7 prevents thelower rear edges of the leaves 5 from projecting beyond the rear edgesof the covers 2 and 3, that is to say, the strip forms a support for thelower rear edges of the leaves. To prevent the leaves from projectingbeyond the front edge of the book, the covers 2 and 3 are provided attheir front edges with flanges 9 and 10, respectively. The transversedimension of the flanges 9 and 10 may be increased and diminished tocompensate for the adjustability of the covers 2 and 3, and theyare'formed by the projecting ends of flexible members 11 embedded in thecovers 2 and 3. The manner in which the covers 2 and 3 are connectedtogether also permit them to be folded back one against the other.

As shown in Figs. Ll, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawing, the entrance slot 12 ofthe retaining element 6 passes diagonally through the element. Asdisclosed in Figs. 5 and '7 of the drawing, the walls of the entranceslots 12 of the preferred and modified forms of the locking element areprovided with interlocking baffle projections 13 and 13, respectively.rlhe baffle projections and the inclination of the entrance slot preventthe leaves from becoming accidentally disengaged from the retainingelement. The modified form of locking element disclosed in Fig. 8 of thedrawing and designated 6b is provided with a diagonal entrance slot 12@lthe walls of which are provided with battle projections, not shown. Thisform of locking element consists of two sections 14 and 15,respectively. The section 14 is provided with a stud 16 having threadedengagement with the wall of a socket 17 in the section 15. Theconnection between the sections of the locking element is such that thefree ends of the sections may be moved away from each other when it isdesired to apply or remove one or more leaves.

Changes in the form, proportions and minor details of construction, maybe made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A looseleaf book comprising covers, a leaf retaining element passing throughthe covers, and a hinge strip secured at its ends to the covers andspaced from the retaining element.

2. A loose leaf book comprising covers, a leaf retaining element passingthrough the covers at points adjacent their upper rear corners, and ahinge strip secured at its ends to the covers at a point remote from theelement.

3. A loose leaf book comprising covers, means connecting the covers forrelative adjustments, leaves pivotally and hingedly secured to saidmeans and flanges on the outer edges of the covers to prevent the leavesfrom projecting beyond the outer edges of the covers.

4l. A loose leaf book comprising covers, means connecting the covers forrelative adjustments, and flanges at the outer edges of the covers, saidflanges being` adapted to have their transverse dimensions increased ordecreased.

5. A loose leaf book comprising covers, leaves, a split ring passingthrough the covers and leaves, and a strip secured to the covers, saidring and strip hingedly and adjustably connecting the covers.

(i. A loose leaf book comprising covers, leaves, a split ring passingthrough the covers and leaves, a strip secured to the covers, said ringand strip hingedly and adjustably connecting the covers and flanges onthe covers.

7. A leaf retaining element consisting of a ring having an entranceslot, the Valls of the slot being relatively spaced, and a bailleprojection formed on one of the walls of the slot.

S. A loose leaf book comprising covers, leaves secured between thecovers, and a flange on one of the covers, said flange being constructedof flexible material to permit its transverse dimension to be increasedor decreased.

9. A loose leaf book comprising covers, leaves secured between thecovers, and ay transversely extensible flange on one of the covers.

10. A leaf retaining element consisting of a ring having an entranceslot, the walls of the slot being relatively spaced, and a bailleprojection extending into the entrance slot.

11. A leaf retaining element consisting of a ring having an entranceslot, the walls of the slot being relatively spaced, and a plurality ofinterlocking battle projections eX- tending into the slot.

12. A loose leaf book comprising covers, means hingedly connecting thecovers, means pivotally and hingedly mounted upon said means, and meansadapted to prevent the pivotal movement of the leaves in one direc tionwhen the book is closed.

13. A loose leaf book comprising covers, means hingedly connecting thecovers, leaves pivotally and hingedly mounted upon said means, and meansadapted to prevent the pivotal movement of the leaves when the book isclosed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. PAYNE.

lVitnesses En. C. H'Annrivo, FRED. J. NOLKER.

